"Now the danger has passed."
"Are you coming with me, or going on your own?"
Wang Jianqiang looked at Mu Lingxi, a playful smile tugging at the corner of his eyes.
At this moment, Zhengyang Sect and Wanjian Sect had already joined forces.
Given his connection with Lin Xian'er, the Xuanqing Palace would likely get involved as well.
When that happened, the situation would become three major forces encircling the Hehuan Sect.
He had to meet up with Wang Yuyao and Ye Qingxue as soon as possible.
Mu Lingxi was strong and beautiful; if she joined the group, it would boost their overall strength — and in his heart, he thought: if she sticks with me, I might as well get a peek at her little temper.
"I'll go with you."
Mu Lingxi answered without hesitation, her eyes firm yet sparkling with a teasing light.
Of course!
The members of the Hehuan Sect had long been scattered; finding other disciples would be nearly impossible.
Even if she did, could they compare to Wang Jianqiang?
Besides, Wang Jianqiang himself could fight against early Foundation Establishment cultivators, and his bird was ridiculously strong, able to suppress mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Following him was undoubtedly the safest choice.
Wang Jianqiang nodded. "Alright, but while you're with me, things go my way."
"Fine." Mu Lingxi nodded, a faint smile on her lips as if silently teasing him.
Afterward, the two of them, along with Xiaoji, moved to a relatively safer spot to rest for half a day, fully restoring their strength.
Seeing Wang Jianqiang still not moving, Mu Lingxi raised an eyebrow. "This place isn't far from Hantan. Others could find us at any moment. Why aren't we leaving right away?"
Wang Jianqiang looked at her, a slight smile in his eyes. "Waiting for someone."
"Waiting for who?" Mu Lingxi blinked, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
"Want to know?"
Mu Lingxi nodded, secretly eager inside.
Wang Jianqiang smirked, his voice low and teasing: "Give me a kiss, and I'll tell you."
Mu Lingxi's face immediately darkened. Her curiosity vanished in an instant, replaced with anger and embarrassment. "You old man!"
Wang Jianqiang's expression remained kindly, but inside he was secretly delighted: This little girl… sooner or later, she'll beg me to kiss her.
Half a day later.
Wang Jianqiang's expression shifted as he looked toward Hantan. "Are they out yet?"
Through soul marks, he could sense Ye Qingxue's location within a certain range.
Previously, she had been at the bottom of Hantan, beyond his perception.
But just now, she suddenly appeared within his senses.
He released his soul aura, allowing Ye Qingxue to detect his location through her soul mark.
Soon, two figures shot toward them from afar.
"Someone's coming!"
Mu Lingxi tensed, standing upright, but her eyes instinctively flicked to Wang Jianqiang. She asked with a mix of caution and anticipation, "Are they our allies?"
Wang Jianqiang smiled faintly, placing a hand lightly on her shoulder. His tone was gentle: "Relax, they're on our side."
Mu Lingxi stiffened, stepping back, her face slightly flushed.
Wang Jianqiang withdrew his hand discreetly, secretly amused: This little girl… such a little enchantress.
Moments later, the two newcomers arrived.
"Senior Brother Wang!"
Seeing Wang Jianqiang, Wang Yuyao rushed to him, her face lighting up with joy. "I'm so glad you're okay!"
When Wang Jianqiang had entered the medicinal garden's qualification test space, she had been extremely worried.
Fortunately, with Ye Qingxue as a soul servant, she could sense her master's life through the soul mark.
Wang Jianqiang casually pulled her close, whispering with a smile: "I'm fine, little girl. Relax."
Mu Lingxi in the corner pursed her lips, secretly biting her lip in a twinge of jealousy.
"Call me Master."
Ye Qingxue approached nervously, her face pale. "I'm sorry, Master, it was my oversight."
Wang Jianqiang nodded expressionlessly. "Intentional or not, mistakes must be punished."
Ye Qingxue paled even more. "Understood, Master."
Mu Lingxi's eyes widened: This old man… how dare he take a Xuanqing Palace disciple as a servant!
Afterward, the group returned to the cave under Wang Jianqiang's lead.
He activated the cave's formation, taking a large handful of Foundation Establishment pills from his storage bag and tossing them to Wang Yuyao. "The exit to the secret realm will open in a month. You must break through Foundation Establishment before the entrance opens."
Wang Yuyao nodded and immediately swallowed a pill to begin cultivation.
Mu Lingxi gawked: That pile must be at least twenty or thirty pills! Giving them away so casually… what a show of wealth!
Though she came from a notable background, she had never seen someone hand out pills so freely, and a faint twinge of jealousy arose in her heart.
At night, Wang Jianqiang tied up Ye Qingxue using Japanese-style techniques, a wicked smile on his face. "Now… it's punishment time."
In the corner, Mu Lingxi was silent, averting her gaze, trying not to watch or listen, but inside, a fire was quietly burning stronger.
More than twenty days later, Wang Yuyao, supported by plenty of Foundation Establishment pills, successfully broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage.
During this time, Wang Jianqiang's punishments for Ye Qingxue never ceased.
Mu Lingxi secretly admired him: He might be clumsy, but he's inventive and playful. And judging by Ye Qingxue's expression every day, she seemed to… enjoy it a little.
"Seven days until the secret realm gate opens. We need to head to the exit."
Entering the secret realm is random, but the exit is fixed. They must reach it before it opens; otherwise, they'd be trapped forever.
"Wanjian Sect and Zhengyang Sect won't let us leave easily."
"And Xuanqing Sect might also interfere. We must be cautious."
Mu Lingxi's face was serious, but a glint of anticipation still shone in her eyes, as if secretly looking forward to walking alongside Wang Jianqiang.
He nodded, looking at Ye Qingxue. After a pause, he said, "If Xuanqing interferes, you don't need to fight, or find an excuse to attack Wanjian and Zhengyang disciples."
Ye Qingxue, being from Xuanqing Palace, would face severe punishment if she attacked her fellow disciples.
She nodded.
"Move out!"
At Wang Jianqiang's command, the four of them and Xiaoji flew out of the cave toward the secret realm exit.
Wang Jianqiang glanced at Mu Lingxi, teasing in a low voice: "Little girl, keep up with me. Don't fall behind."
Mu Lingxi's cheeks flushed, thinking: This old man… he's teasing me again…